Euro 2020 Match 3: Four-Goal Stalemate Between Russia and Switzerland

The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2020.

Euro 2020 Match 3: Russia v Switzerland

Four-Goal Stalemate Between Russia and Switzerland

June 15, 2020

Russia 2 Switzerland 2

 

Switzerland came from two goals behind to draw against Russia in their opening Euro 2020 encounter.

 

Both sides started with a 4-2-3-1 formation, and Switzerland had all the play early as a result of their familiarity with the set up. Admir Mehmedi had the first shot with his left in the fifth minute, only to shoot wide of the mark.

 

Immediately down the other end, Russia countered, getting into the match. Yuri Zhirkov got close to an attempt, only for the Swiss defence to close him down.

 

Each team took turns attacking, before Russia could string a couple of advances together, but to no avail. Meanwhile, Denis Zakaria looked the danger man for Switzerland, needing to be closed down by defenders twice.

 

Russia’s Artem Dzyuba had a chance at the other end, only for his left footer to miss to the right of goal from a tight angle.

 

Instead, from a similar angle, Aleksei Ionov cut the ball across the ground, instead of shooting for goal. The ball reached a sprinting Zhirkov, who slid the ball into the relatively open goal. Russia had the lead.

 

Much of the play, after the goal, was in the middle of the field, Eventually, Zakaria, still dangerous, pushed down the left wing, before crossing the ball to Granit Xhaka. His volley at goal needed a solid defensive block, before Russia breathed a sigh of relief as the ball cleared to safety.

 

In the next passage of play, Rocardo Rodriguez crossed from the same spot as Zakaria, with Guilherme making the crucial diving save as Edimilson Fernandes outworked his opponent for a crafty header.

 

Remo Freuler had a chance from outside the box, only for the shot to drive straight at Guilherme. The next shot nearly scored, as Freuler’s ping needed Guilherme to dive to his left and pad the ball onto the post before the Russian defence cleared.

 

Fernandes then sent a choice ball that cut the defence to Haris Seferović, whose shot again needed a goalkeepring save. From the corner, Mehmedi missed the header right in front of goal.

 

Instead, Dzyuba led onto a through ball as Russia again countered, easing the pressure for a time on their defenders. Dzyuba steadied himself as he chipped Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer, gifting his side a second goal and a chance to run out the match.

 

Swiss substitute Christian Fassnacht lifted his side when he came off the bench. His work in attack kept Russia’s defence on their toes. Fassnacht received a chipped pass on his own, only to be closed down. This repeated a second time, and though he got a shot off, it was blocked before it could pressure Guilherme.

 

The hard work paid off as Switzerland finally scored when Player of the Match Freuler dragged the ball to his right foot, fooling the Russian defence. He slid the ball across to Zakaria, who shot into the goal with his right.

 

Seventeen minutes remained for Switzerland, and Russia wanted to score to regain that two-goal lead. Only the talisman Freuler received the perfect cross of the afternoon. Where Russia’s central defenders were was unclear as Freuler brought down the ball with a deft touch, then fired from the edge of the box to level the match.

 

From there, Russia’s formation went out the window, and though they attacked more, no further shots on goal took place, with the match ending in a draw.